Cheekytiki are providing various items for the show some small some very large, this exhibition is hoped to travel worldwide over the next few years ending up on Easter Island. So come on down

EXHIBITION | Easter Island, Myths, and Popular Culture
The appeal of Easter Island has been predominately evidenced though the work of archaeologists, anthropologists and scientists, whose reports have inspired the continuous flow of visiting tourists. Research has long focused on the way in which the famous moai were created, treated, and considered within the confines of Easter Island's landscape. Yet the moai have long held a popular appeal that has extended far into the worldwide cultural conscious, drawn to fantasies of a detached and distant civilisation.

This exhibition aims, for the first time, to bring together the fascinating diversity of cultural artefacts that have depicted Easter Island, in an attempt to help define the popular appeal of the moai in particular. Fiction films, adverts, cartoons, album covers, toys and board games, computer games, novels, and comic books will form a central part of this exhibition. Objects of material culture are not lacking, in which you will find moai replicas positioned as tissue box holders, glowing lamps, salt and pepper shakers, cushions, and fruit machine symbols, amongst others.

The exhibition is curated by Dr Ian Conrich, a specialist on film, visual and material culture of the Pacific islands. Co-curators are Dr Roy Smith and Martyn Harris.

6 October 2011 to 31 March 2012
Full exhibition, with workshops and educational events
The Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway

Opening times: Monday-Sunday 10.30-4pm (or 3.30pm from early November to the end of February)
Entrance: by paying ticket
<http://www.kon-tiki.no/e_aapning.php>

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8 May to 30 September 2012
Full exhibition
Museo Antropológico P. Sebastián Englert, on Easter Island

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The exhibitions have been curated by Dr Ian Conrich. Co-curators are Dr Roy Smith and Martyn Harris,
with support from Frieder Wahl, Dr Dan Bendrups, and Dr Grant McCall.
Designed and produced in collaboration with The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, Marton, Middlesbrough.
Assisted by the Embassy of Chile, London.

Thanks for the posting, Jamie. Below are the full details including the symposium and talks. Open to suggestions taking this exhibition elsewhere for 2013-14. The 4 additional museums we are in discussion with are in Osaka, Paris, Vienna and Santiago. It would be a shame if it did not go to North America....

Please find below details of all the other planned Easter Island events covering the period November 2010 to September 2012. The exhibitions will travel from London to The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, Marton, Middlesbrough, then to The Kon-Tiki Musuem, Oslo, Norway, followed by the Museo Antropológico P. Sebastián Englert, on Easter Island. We are currently in discussions with 4 other museums for 2013-14, and welcome enquiries from parties who are interested in hosting this exhibition in the future.

At the heart of the exhibition are 32 panels. These are supported by cabinet exhibits, interactive displays, workshops, educational packages, screenings and guest talks. For further details on any of these events, please contact Ian Conrich <ian@ianconrich.co.uk>.
The very best - Ian

Easter Island, Myths, and Popular Culture

Exhibitions and Events

4 November 2010
Guest talk, Easter Island, Myths, and Western Popular Culture,
given by Ian Conrich, at the British Museum, London

The exhibitions have been curated by Dr Ian Conrich. Co-curators are Dr Roy Smith and Martyn Harris,
with support from Frieder Wahl, Dr Dan Bendrups, and Dr Grant McCall.
Designed and produced in collaboration with The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, Marton, Middlesbrough.
Assisted by the Embassy of Chile, London.

The Easter Island stone statues (called moai) have long held a popular appeal that has extended far into the culture of foreign countries. Murder mysteries, alien visitors, time travel, and hidden treasure have been a part of the island through a wide range of popular fictions.

This series of exhibitions aims, for the first time, to bring together the fascinating diversity of cultural artefacts that have depicted Easter Island and to define the popular appeal of the moai, in particular. Fiction films, adverts, cartoons, album covers, toys and board games, computer games, novels, and comic books will be a central part of these exhibitions. As will objects of material culture, which position miniature replicas of the moai as glowing lamps, cushions, and slot machine symbols.

Essentially, the exhibitions will divide the material into four areas: The Myth of Creation, The Myth of Movement, The Myth of Power, and The Myth of Presence. The exhibitions will also consider the popularisation of the rongorongo tablets, and the birdman cult. The exhibits will be placed in context with a strong educational and interactive element, and will be supported by film screenings, presentations, workshops, and discussions.

I've gotten in touch with the people responsible for it, given the serious overlap between their event and my own recent book (Big Stone Head: Easter Island and Pop Culture) and hope to participate in the 2011 and 2012 events.

This exhibition opens at the Captain Cook Museum the very day Mrs. CH has a Birthday and the day after Mr. CH had his Birthday! Not only that, but together they created a mosaic that will be included in the exhibition (U.K. Customs Bureaucrats willing).

We'd like to thank Dr. Ian & his co-curators for giving us this rare opportunity. To think that a Velvet Glass mosaic will be shown at the Captain Cook Museum, The Kon Tiki Museum and on Easter Island is a mighty humbling experience.

And one heck of a joint Birthday present too!

I'm not sure if it's o.k. to show the piece before the exhibition opens, but this is the rough design we did:

Apparently 'The Powers That Be' liked this design enough that a cleaned up version got used for the back cover of the exhibition catalog.

Double Birthday Presents!

We only wish we'd been able to make it over to England for the opening